Transcript: NewsCenter Podcast

July 22, 2026

Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about Plastic Free July, Park and Recreation Month, and the release of Demographic Reports 2025. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at fairfaxcounty.gov.

All around the world, folks are pledging to give up single use plastic by reaching for reusables this month in celebration of Plastic Free July. Here are 12 easy swaps that you can try to reduce your dependence on single use plastics for the whole year, not just for the month of July!

• When you pick up take out, refuse the plastic wrapped packet of knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks and napkin, especially if you’re taking it right home! Opt to use your reusable cutlery.
• Use a reusable lunchbox or bento box instead of plastic baggies.
• If you find that your tap water is not to your liking, use a water filter instead of buying cases of water bottles.
• Use one of the many reusable drink bottles or tumblers you already own. If you need one, get a good quality, stainless steel, double walled container that isn’t too big that you can’t carry it around. Also, you don’t need one in every color.
• Use containers with lids instead of plastic wrap, or use aluminum foil, which can be recycled!
• Save plastic mailing envelopes (like the one pictured below) for your household plastic bag needs rather than relying on grocery bags.
• Remember that complicated take-back schemes that require you to pay to mail something back to an entity that claims to recycle your plastic doesn’t absolve you of using single use plastic.
• Skip the straw but if you need one, use a reusable one with a silicone tip for comfort and safety.
• Find your closest zero waste store and bulk section of your favorite grocery store. Enjoy the feeling you get when you come home from the store with half the plastic you used to have!
• Bring your own shopping bag everywhere you go, especially when you “Turnip at the Fairfax County Farmers Markets”, which are now Plastic Bag Free for the second year!

Learn more. Search "plastic free July" on fairfaxcounty.gov.

Be sure to subscribe to “Weekender,” the county’s weekend arts and entertainment e-newsletter. Don’t miss out on fun happenings throughout the county. Subscribe to “Weekender” at fairfaxcounty.gov/news/weekender.

At its July 14 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the month of July as Park and Recreation Month in Fairfax County. The county joins jurisdictions from across the nation in commemorating National Park and Recreation Month, celebrating the role of parks and recreation and recognizing the role of park and recreation professionals in building vibrant communities. This year’s Park and Recreation Month celebrates "The Power of..." parks and recreation, and the people who make it possible. For more information about the Park Authority’s observance of National Park and Recreation Month, visit the Park and Recreation Month webpage.

Fairfax County’s population and housing inventory continued to grow during 2024, while median home values climbed over 6% between January 2024 and January 2025, according to the newly released Demographic Reports 2025. The annual report provides a snapshot of Fairfax County as of January 1, 2025, with estimates and forecasts on population, households and housing units, along with data on home values and development activity. Information is broken down by geographic areas such as supervisory districts, towns, zip codes and census tracts. These demographic reports provide the localized data necessary to shape policies, plan intelligently and support the evolving needs of Fairfax County’s residents and businesses," says Phil Hagan, director of the Department of Management and Budget. Residents and county agencies can explore detailed demographic information reported in Demographic Reports. More recent economic trends since Jan. 1, 2025, are not captured in this edition but will be addressed in future demographic reports as data becomes available.

Finally, if you’ve enjoyed this podcast and want to hear more about the people and programs of Fairfax County Government, listen to the “County Conversation” podcast. You can find it, and several other county podcasts, at fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. 

That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. Follow the NewsCenter podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. You can also listen 24/7 online to Fairfax County Government Radio at fairfaxcounty.gov/radio. If you have questions, call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, Government.